One of the hidden gems of British motorsport, Sports 2000 was established in the late 1970s to deliver affordable and competitive sports car racing to the Club scene during a fragile period for the national economy. Now, almost five decades later, it continues to provide the same offering, with grids full of sleek, low-slung sports prototypes that have looks and performance levels which belie the budgets required to run them.

The championship, which includes separate categories for classic and modern cars, is one of an increasing number of popular low-cost track racing options running under Motorsport UK licence. Its robust, reliable and easy-torun machinery include the classic Pinto-engine class, with limited aerodynamics, and the modern Duratec-powered cars, with more advanced aerodynamics, computer-managed performance and specialised body kits.

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At the top end, the speeds these machines deliver put them right up there with the fastest categories of UK motorsport and former champion Clive Steeper, now its partnership liaison officer, explains:“ The cars have so much grip that when you approach some of the corners, you don’ t lift, you just turn. When you start to drive them to their best potential and look at their times, they’ re actually faster than Touring Cars around some places.

“ The category did have a period of decline, but since the creation of the Duratec class in 2001, and the more recent formation of the Sports 2000 Racing Car Club as a limited company five years ago, both Historic and Duratec categories have blossomed with better and better racing. Pretty much everybody on the grid prepares their own car, so from the point of view of bang for buck, it really is excellent value.”

Revolution- September 2025